This excellent Good to be Home infographic on the 2013 Housing Energy Fact File displays some really interesting information on how energy usage has changed over the years. For example, did you know that we know use 18% less energy than we did in 1970, but depressingly we know spend 50% more money?
There a million different ways you can conserve energy and save money at home, but here are some relating to the water you use…
Check for leaks
If there’s a leak somewhere in your house then you’re naturally going to be wasting water, and it can also be potentially damaging to the structure of your house if it’s within the walls and not dealt with. You should check pipes, taps and the toilet, or if you want a more comprehensive check then you should call someone in or at least use a water metre. A small drip from a leaky tap can waster 20 gallons of water per day.
Insulate your water pipes
By insulating your water pipes, you will cut down on the time it takes for water to heat up, thus reducing the amount of wasted water as you wait for it to heat up. It’s relatively easy and inexpensive to do, although if you’re not sure what you’re doing it’s best to employ someone to do it for you.
Don’t leave the tap running whilst brushing your teeth
So many people do this. Rather than leave the tap on constantly, turn it off once you’ve wet your toothbrush. This could save you six litres of water per minute. This applies to shaving too; a lot of men leave the tap running so they can rinse their razor. Rather than leave the tap running, simple fill the basin with a little water and rinse in that.
Have showers, but keep them short
Baths use a tremendous amount of water, so showering is preferable. However, a lot of people spend longer in the shower than is necessary, so don’t linger in there too long. Showers use anywhere between six and 45 litres per minute.
Do full washes
When using the washing machine or dish washer, always try and do a full load rather than several smaller ones. Doing fewer washes will obviously save a considerable amount of water.
Use water-efficient products
You can now purchase a huge number of water-efficient goods for throughout the home, including showerheads, washing machines, taps and toilets, all of which are much more adept at conserving the amount of water used.
Install a water butt in the garden
By installing a water butt and hooking it up to your guttering, you can collect rainwater for future use. You can then use this to water your garden, clean the windows and wash the car, meaning you don’t have to use mains water.
If you want even more tips on saving water at home, then this website has some great advice, whilst Waterwise is also an excellent resource on the matter.